Nanna Bach-Møller is a postdoctoral fellow at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, specializing in astrophysics and planetary research. She completed her PhD in 2024 with a dissertation on exoplanet atmospheres in high-energy radiative environments. Research Interests Exoplanet atmospheres and their interaction with high-energy radiation Microlensing events and brown dwarf characterization Planetary system dynamics and orbital evolution Stellar activity and its impact on exoplanet observations Her work combines theoretical modeling with observational data analysis, focusing on understanding atmospheric processes in extreme environments and the dynamics of planetary systems. Publications Dr. Bach-Møller has published extensively in leading journals such as Astrophysical Journal , Astronomy & Astrophysics , and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . Her recent work includes studies on cloud particle charging, transmission spectroscopy of exoplanets, and precision measurements of brown dwarf masses through microlensing. Collaborations She collaborates with international teams, including the MiNDSTEp Consortium, OGLE Collaboration, and MOA Collaboration, contributing to large-scale surveys and high-impact research projects.
Simon de Szoeke is a Professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University. His research focuses on atmosphere-ocean interaction and its influence on climate, with particular emphasis on tropical regions. He conducts observational studies and modeling work to understand air-sea interactions, cloud processes, and their representation in climate models. Dr. de Szoeke received his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington in spring 2004, with a dissertation on "Evolution of the cross-equatorial atmospheric boundary layer in the east Pacific: observations and models." He earned his B.A. summa cum laude in Physics with departmental honors and Mathematics from the University of Oregon Robert D. Clark Honors College in 1997. His research interests center on atmosphere-ocean interaction, stratiform clouds, and tropical meteorology . He investigates how clouds influence the Earth's radiative heating, the processes responsible for the transition from stratiform to cumuliform clouds, and the role of inversion strength in cloud maintenance. His work on the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) involves analyzing data from the DYNAMO international field campaign to study air-sea flux feedbacks and the role of sea surface temperature in tropical weather phenomena. Dr. de Szoeke is particularly known for his groundbreaking research on cold pools in the tropical ocean, which he describes as "footprints" of convection. His research shows that these cold, invisible phantoms play an important role in the atmospheric heat budget and can organize towering clouds at their intersection points. Contrary to previous assumptions, he found that cold pools are drier than their surroundings, challenging existing theories about their role in convection. His scientific contributions include numerous publications on air-sea interaction, tropical meteorology, and cloud processes. His research has been supported by major field campaigns including DYNAMO in the Indian Ocean and VOCALS in the southeastern Pacific, with findings published in leading journals such as Journal of Climate, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, and Monthly Weather Review. Dr. de Szoeke teaches courses in atmospheric sciences including The Changing Climate (AS 320), Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics (AS 411/511), and Large-Scale Interactions of the Atmosphere and Oceans (AS 615). He has advised several graduate students, including June Marion who graduated in summer 2014 with a thesis on turbulent heat flux estimates, as well as Michael Makiyama and Kathryn Verlinden.
Professor Markku Kulmala, currently at the University of Helsinki's Division of Atmospheric Sciences, leads the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Atmospheric Composition and Climate Change. His research unit comprises 150 scientists, including 5 foreign professors, and he has coordinated major projects like EUCAARI and iLEAPS. Academy Professor (2004-2009, 2011) King Carl XVI Gustaf Visiting Professor (2009-2010) His research focuses on biosphere-aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, atmospheric nucleation mechanisms, and climate-air quality relationships. He has authored over 600 publications with 15,000+ citations and an H-index of 61. Awarded extensively including: Fuchs Memorial Award (2010) Wilhelm Bjerkenes Medal (2007) ERC Advanced Grant (2009-2013) Honorary Doctorates from Stockholm and Tartu Universities He has supervised 48 PhDs, 9 of whom are now professors. His research group offers 60+ ECTS of postgraduate courses in collaboration with international institutions.
Nina Maherndl serves as Assistant Professor for Ground-based Remote Sensing of Clouds at the Department of Geoscience & Remote Sensing within Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, a position she assumed in 2025 after completing her PhD at Leipzig University. Her research focuses on microphysical processes in mid- and high-latitude mixed-phase clouds. Her educational background includes: PhD in Meteorology, Leipzig University (2024) Dr. Maherndl specializes in ice formation and growth mechanisms , with particular emphasis on riming processes in mixed-phase clouds. Her work investigates how these microphysical phenomena drive spatial variability in ice and snowfall distribution, bridging observational cloud physics and ground-based remote sensing methodologies to improve atmospheric modeling. Current efforts focus on quantifying riming effects through airborne campaign data and developing advanced parameterizations for snowflake scattering. Her 2023-2024 publications demonstrate consistent innovation in riming quantification techniques , leveraging data from the HALO-(AC)3 aircraft campaign and developing novel parameterizations for remote sensing applications. These studies integrate cloud microphysics , airborne instrumentation , and radiative transfer modeling to address precipitation formation challenges in mixed-phase systems. Dr. Maherndl operates within TU Delft's Geoscience & Remote Sensing (GRS) Laboratory framework and has participated in international field campaigns including HALO-(AC)3. No information regarding student supervision or grant funding was provided in the source materials.
Jan Cermak is Professor and acting Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing (IMK-ASF) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His research focuses on atmospheric science with specialization in fog dynamics, aerosol-cloud interactions, and satellite remote sensing applications. His primary research interests include Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Remote Sensing, Aerosol-Cloud Interactions, Fog and Low Stratus Dynamics, Satellite Meteorology, and Machine Learning Applications. He employs geostationary satellite data and explainable machine learning to investigate fog life cycles, particularly in the Namib Desert and Po Valley, examining how aerosols influence cloud formation and dissipation processes. His work bridges observational meteorology with computational techniques for environmental monitoring. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a concentrated research trajectory on fog life cycle analysis using multi-sensor approaches, with significant emphasis on aerosol impacts in polluted regions and arid environments. Key methodological trends include explainable AI for cloud fraction adjustment analysis and high-resolution satellite-based air quality estimation, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary integration of atmospheric physics and data science. Scientific Awards: No awards were documented in the provided source material. Advising and Grants: Source documentation contains no information regarding student supervision, research grants, or funding sources. His leadership role as acting director of IMK-ASF suggests administrative responsibilities within the institute's research framework. Labs and Teams: Cermak leads the Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing (IMK-ASF) group at KIT, conducting field campaigns including NaFoLiCA (Namib Fog Life Cycle Analysis) and FAIRARI (Fog and Aerosol Interaction Research Italy). The team specializes in satellite data analysis combined with ground-based observations to study fog dynamics in extreme environments.
Prof. Dr. Corinna Hoose leads the Cloud Physics research group at the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Tropospheric Research (IMKTRO) within Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) . She has held this W3 Professorship since 2013 and previously led a Helmholtz Young Investigators Group (2010-2016). Her work focuses on aerosol-cloud interactions , mixed-phase cloud processes , and numerical modeling of atmospheric systems . Professor of Theoretical Meteorology at KIT (2013-present) Former Helmholtz Group Leader (2010-2016) University of Oslo & ETH Zurich Postdoc experience Co-Editor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Research Interests center on ice nucleation mechanisms , cloud dynamics , and climate sensitivity studies . Her group develops parameterizations for heterogeneous ice nucleation and investigates precipitation formation across different cloud types. Notable methodological contributions include SEVIRI satellite data analysis and ICON model modifications for microphysical-dynamic coupling. Publication Trends show consistent leadership in mixed-phase cloud modeling (2013-2025), with particular emphasis on Arctic cloud systems , heterogeneous ice formation , and aerosol impacts on precipitation . Her work bridges laboratory ice nucleation studies (e.g., dust-ash parameterizations) and regional climate modeling at various spatial resolutions. Teaching includes core courses in Theoretical Meteorology , Numerical Methods , and Cloud Physics at KIT. She has mentored multiple early-career researchers as evidenced by co-authorships with advisees like A. Oertel and L. Ickes. Collaborations span institutions including ETH Zurich, University of Oslo, and EU projects like EUCAARI. Her research group interacts with observational teams through field campaigns like Swabian MOSES and utilizes both in situ and remote sensing data for model validation.
Dr. Zhaoxia Pu is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah and an Adjunct Professor at the School of Computing . Recognized as a Fellow of both the American Meteorological Society and the Royal Meteorological Society, she serves on the NOAA Science Advisory Board and has led 38 federally funded projects from agencies including NOAA, NASA, NSF, DOE, and ONR. Specializes in numerical weather prediction , data assimilation , and AI/machine learning for high-impact weather systems Developed advanced methods integrating satellite/radar data (GOES-R, CYGNSS, TROPICS) with Earth system models (UFS, E3SM, WRF) Recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Research Award and 2023 Provost's Banner Project recognition Research Trends : Her recent publications focus on: Machine learning approaches for precipitation retrieval using GOES-R data Cold fog microphysics and visibility parameterization in complex terrain Tropical cyclone dynamics through radar and lidar data assimilation Boundary layer turbulence in landfalling storms Drought mechanisms linked to synoptic-scale circulation New particle formation in mountainous regions Scientific Leadership : Lead scientist for CFACT NSF field campaign (2021–2025) Editorial board member of leading journals Active reviewer for NSF, DOE, NOAA, and NASA Teaching & Mentorship : Teaches Numerical Weather Prediction , Atmospheric Dynamics , and Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences courses. Has supervised 28 graduate students to completion.
Dr. Daniel T. Dawson II is an Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science at Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). He leads the STorMLab (Storm and Tornado Modeling Laboratory), focusing on severe convective storm dynamics, tornado physics, and improving numerical prediction of severe weather. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma (2009) and B.S. from Purdue University (2002). His research integrates observational data from field campaigns like VORTEX2 and VORTEX-SE with advanced numerical modeling, particularly using EnKF radar data assimilation techniques. Education: Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology (2009) M.S., University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology (2004) B.S., Purdue University, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (2002) His research interests include storm-scale microphysics, radar observations, and the role of surface drag in tornadogenesis. He collaborates with the Weather Radar Research Laboratory led by his spouse, Dr. Robin Tanamachi, and co-teaches the EAPS 59100 Severe Storms Field Work course, emphasizing hands-on storm chasing and forecasting. Dawson has extensive experience with the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). His work addresses challenges in Warn-on-Forecast systems and has contributed to understanding the geographic controls of severe storm environments. He leads Purdue's mobile disdrometer operations in field campaigns like PERiLS and VORTEX-SE, emphasizing real-time data collection for improving storm prediction models. Labs/Teams: STorMLab (Purdue), Weather Radar Research Laboratory (collaboration), and the Purdue TriPIPS and XTRRA radar initiatives.
Tuukka Petäjä is a Professor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science and Department of Physics, currently serving as Docent and supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Atmospheric Sciences. He is affiliated with the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR). Research focuses on atmospheric and Earth system science Active in aerosol research and climate modeling Recipient of multiple scientific awards His research spans air pollution mapping, aerosol dynamics, and climate-relevant particle formation. Recent publications analyze aerosol sources in Europe, Arctic blowing snow events, and machine learning applications in atmospheric science. Notable scientific awards include: Aerosol Foundation Award (2022) Finnish Association for Aerosol Research Award (2010) Thompson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher in Geosciences (2014-2016) He supervises doctoral students and co-manages research infrastructure projects, including SMEAR Stations for Earth system-atmosphere relations. Current research involves international collaboration through initiatives like ACTRIS and PEEX-Academic-Challenge workshops.
Professor Eigil Kaas is affiliated with the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen . His work spans climate dynamics , numerical weather prediction (NWP) , and atmospheric modeling . As former Section Head of Climate and Computational Geophysics , he leads research on climate-chemistry coupling and sea ice impacts. Education : MSc (1987) and PhD (1993) in Meteorology from University of Copenhagen Research Focus : Climate dynamics and physics Numerical methods in atmospheric models Machine learning for weather prediction Arctic sea ice-climate interactions Thunderstorm electricity and radiation Coupled atmosphere-ocean modeling Article Trends : Recent work combines neural networks with radiative transfer optimization Focus on storm dynamics and gamma-ray flashes Extreme precipitation modeling under climate change Pioneering tidal flow studies in Faroe Island fjords Teaching Legacy : Instructor of Atmospheric Physics and Dynamical Meteorology courses Developed zonally averaged climate model for educational use Mentored 12 PhD/MSc students with DMI/ECMWF collaborations Professional Roles : Chairman of BFI Group 28 (Geosciences & Climate) Scientific Advisory Committee member at ECMWF Project lead in EU ENSEMBLES and PEGASOS initiatives
Jonathan E. Martin is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison since 1994. He received his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington in 1992. Research Focus: Mid-latitude cyclones, jet stream dynamics, and weather-climate interactions Key Methods: Multi-scale observational analysis, high-resolution mesoscale modeling, potential vorticity diagnostics Recent Projects: Jet stream waviness trends, subtropical-midlatitude cyclone transformation, snow cover-cyclone feedback His 2025-2024 publications examine extratropical cyclone precipitation distribution, Pacific basin rapid cyclogenesis, and Earth system model validation for cyclone occlusion. Earlier work (2023-2019) addresses: Jet superposition climatology Self-organizing map analysis of jet variability Cyclone-induced Southern Hemisphere waviness Nonlinear jet retraction mechanisms Tornado outbreak jet influences Historical cold pool contraction trends Awarded the 2021 Atmospheric Sciences Librarians International Choice Runner Up for his historical meteorology work, he also authored the textbook Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics: A First Course (2013). His research spans cyclogenesis, frontogenesis, and climate change impacts on jet streams, with applications in extreme weather forecasting and climate modeling validation.
Maarten Ambaum is Professor of Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics at the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology. His research focuses on fundamental atmospheric processes including energy transfer mechanisms, cloud electrification phenomena, and storm track variability using theoretical modeling and experimental approaches. Research interests span thermodynamics of climate systems, electrical properties of cloud droplets, geophysical fluid dynamics, and applications of Bayesian statistics to atmospheric science. Current projects investigate convective energy cycles, electrical aspects of rainfall generation, and storm track transitions. Publications demonstrate expertise in atmospheric electricity, cloud microphysics, and climate system modeling. Recent work examines fog electrification, aircraft-based charge emission systems, and storm track responses to climate oscillations. Develops novel instrumentation for atmospheric measurements including corona current monitoring systems. Authored textbook 'Thermal Physics of the Atmosphere' with second edition published in 2020.
Bjorn Stevens is the Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and a Professor (§17) at the University of Hamburg. He leads the Climate Physics department, focusing on understanding how atmospheric water vapor, clouds, and radiative processes shape global and regional climates. His research explores turbulent mixing, cloud microphysics, and their role in climate feedback mechanisms, with contributions to observational techniques and high-resolution climate modeling. Education: PhD in Atmospheric Science (1996, Colorado State University), M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (1990 and 1987, Iowa State University). Professional experience includes roles at UCLA, NCAR, and leadership in major initiatives like HD(CP)2 and NextGEMS. He has supervised 25 PhD students, 29 master’s students, and 30 postdocs. Research interests span climate variability, cloud organization, and interactions between clouds and large-scale circulation. Recent work emphasizes storm-resolving models, tropical convection, and radiative feedbacks. Stevens has contributed to the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC assessments and leads projects like the Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE) to advance climate simulation capabilities.
Stephen Saleeby is a Senior Research Associate at Colorado State University, working in the field of atmospheric science since July 2000. His research focuses on cloud microphysics, aerosol-cloud interactions, and numerical modeling using the RAMS mesoscale model. Education: B.S. in Physics (1997), M.S. in Atmospheric Science (2000) Affiliation: Colorado State University Research Interests: Cloud microphysics, aerosol effects on precipitation, numerical modeling His recent publications analyze aerosol impacts on deep convection, ice nucleation processes, and convective storm initiation mechanisms. He has contributed to model development (e.g., tobac v1.5) and validation studies using satellite and radar observations. Field experience includes the ISPA-2 and ISPA-3 projects at Storm Peak Lab, where he conducted aerosol and snowfall measurements. He also coaches the Kinard Middle School Science Olympiad Meteorology Team.
Steven Siems is a Professor at Monash University's School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment. He leads research on clouds, precipitation, and boundary layer meteorology, focusing on the Southern Ocean, Australia, and SE Asia. As a Chief Investigator in the ARC Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF) center, he studies precipitation processes and co-chairs the World Weather Research Program's Weather Modification Expert Team. He also edits the Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science. Education: PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington (Seattle), followed by post-doctoral research at NCAR and UMIST. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and life below water. Projects: CAPE-k (Southern Ocean Clouds), CCI GBR (Great Barrier Reef Climate), POSOSI (Antarctic Sea Ice), and PSCSO (Southern Ocean Convection) Research Themes: Cloud microphysics, orographic precipitation, trade wind cumulus dynamics Recent publications focus on satellite cloud retrievals, coral bleaching drivers, and precipitation biases in high-latitude observations. Supervised PhD students engage in fieldwork across the Snowy Mountains, King Island, and Great Barrier Reef aboard research vessels like the R/V Investigator.
